NCSBN - National Council of State Boards of Nursing Ethical and Legal Principles Questions and Answers

Question 1

A surgeon asks a nurse to witness a client's signature on a surgical consent form.
The nurse enters the room, and the client states, "I'm not really sure what the doctor is going to do, but I trust him." What is the nurse's most appropriate legal and ethical action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the surgeon that the client does not have informed consent.

Answer

Sign the form as a witness since the client is willing to proceed.

Answer

Provide a detailed explanation of the surgical procedure to the client.

Answer

Ask the client's family member to explain the procedure to the client.

Question 2

Which of the following actions by a nurse would be a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

Accepted Answer

Looking up the lab results of a neighbor who is a client on another unit.

Answer

Giving a verbal report on a client's condition to the oncoming shift nurse.

Answer

Informing the hospital pharmacist about a client's new medication allergy.

Answer

Documenting a client's response to pain medication in the electronic health record.

Question 3

A client with a terminal illness has a valid living will that explicitly refuses the use of mechanical ventilation. The client becomes unconscious and experiences respiratory failure. The client's distraught spouse demands that the healthcare team "do everything possible" to save the client. What is the nurse's primary legal responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Honor the client's wishes as stated in the living will.

Answer

Follow the spouse's wishes, as they are the next of kin.

Answer

Initiate mechanical ventilation and immediately request an ethics consultation.

Answer

Inform the spouse that only the physician can make the final decision.

Question 4

A nurse administers an incorrect dose of an antihypertensive medication. The client's blood pressure drops slightly but remains within a safe range, and the client experiences no adverse effects. Which essential element of professional negligence (malpractice) is missing in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Damages or harm

Answer

Duty to the client

Answer

Breach of duty

Answer

Causation

Question 5

A nurse who consistently provides pain relief, repositions clients for comfort, and advocates for their nutritional needs is primarily demonstrating which ethical principle?

Accepted Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Fidelity

Question 6

While assessing a 7-year-old child admitted for an asthma exacerbation, the nurse observes multiple circular bruises in various stages of healing on the child's back. The parent states the child is clumsy and falls a lot. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority legal responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Report the suspicion of abuse to the appropriate authorities.

Answer

Ask the parent to provide a more detailed history of the injuries.

Answer

Carefully document the findings in the child's medical record only.

Answer

Confront the parent about the inconsistencies in their story.

A surgeon asks a nurse to witness a client's signature on a surgical consent form.The nurse enters the room, and the client states, "I'm not really sure what the doctor is going to do, but I trust him." What is the nurse's most appropriate legal and ethical action?

A surgeon asks a nurse to witness a client's signature on a surgical consent form.
The nurse enters the room, and the client states, "I'm not really sure what the doctor is going to do, but I trust him." What is the nurse's most appropriate legal and ethical action?